I was actually gonna post a thread about this very thing. the song I think of when someone says 'epic trance' is Lost Tribe - Gamemaster. But i would also like to know what it is and some examples.

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Greg's Soundcloud

Epic & dream trance is the same thing. Fluffy airy. I would say Gamemaster is progressive trance. Tiesto spins a lotta of epic trance.

I made a thread a while back about just this this (actually it was my first post) and I never really got much of an answer...I still would like to know what classifies epic trance, because as I see it right now, it is not too different from progressive trance

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I chose not to choose life, I chose something else...TrAnCe

I'd say that Epic Trance is far more rushy .. higher energy .. very quick leads.. dream trance is just that.. like music out of a dream.. this is how I distinguish the two anyway..

I've always just considered Epic Trance as the most Progressive of Progressive Trance. I think the term Epic came around, cuz the term Progressive was being used so loosely and being thrown around for such a wide variety of trance... For instance, even some of the slower minimal trance (with heavy bass) is even considered (and called) progressive by some.

I could be way off... I mean, I'm no expert, but I think of Epic Trance as Progressive trance that has the biggest builds and explosions... a lot of it can even be considered a little cheezy (especially by Trance-haters)

Just wait! After thinking about it a bit more and looking at what Ishkur has to say in his Guide to Electronic Music (PLAY THIS GAME!) I might be a little off here... so have a look and see what you think...

Here's his description of some of the different types of trance(although I don't know how accurate he is):

PROGRESSIVE TRANCE
Example: Binary Finary - 1998
The quintESSENTIAL genre of the British clubbing scene in the late 90s. So called because the tracks progress to a crescending climax. Good Trance DJs intersperse all kinds of trance genres in their sets. Bad Trance DJs (and there are a lot of them) do not. [NOTE: I don't necessarily agree with this, although it's a semi-valid point in a lot of cases]

EPIC TRANCE
Example: Paul Van Dyk - For An Angel
Lighter Progressive Trance variant. Uses piano, lovely melodies and soft beats. Almost always contains vocals, usually female. The form of trance most likely to make the Top 40 playlists.

DREAM TRANCE
Example: Robert Miles - Children
Pretty much the music of one guy -- Robert Miles, but immensely popular for its catchy piano riffs and dreamy soundscapes. Considered the cheesiest Trance music in existence.

SYMPHONIC TRANCE
Example: George S. Clinton - X-squad
Not a very popular or even well known genre, probably due to its application: the use of real symphonies rather than electronic or digitized ones. Classical music with a drum machine. Often used in movie soundtracks.

ANTHEM TRANCE
Example: X-Cabs - Neuro
Also called Stadium Trance, for obvious reasons. Glowstick waving music. Standard progressive English superclub massive music that has somehow made deities of mediocre DJs. This track should've been called Euro.

HI NRG
Example: TH Express - I'm On Your Side
Actually has a storied history, emerging from Disco with Electric Boogie and Italo in the 80's. By 1990 it had become THE form of music most people associated with the word 'Techno'. Faster, more upbeat, synthetic form of Club House. Cheese.

IBIZA TRANCE
Example: Chicane - Offshore
A natural evolution from Balearic House, the music popular in Ibiza in the mid-80s. Very soft and atmospheric, like a setting Mediterranean sunset.

TECH TRANCE
Example: Breeder - The Chain
Relatively New. Takes Progressive, does away with the melodies and synth lines, and concentrates on the myriad of beats and sounds, giving it a 'Techno' feel. Considered retro by some -- simply trance returning to its anthem-less roots.

There's more, so check it out... I don't quite agree with everything Ishkur has to say, but it's entertaining and even insightful...

Silly Sal :P
http://members.home.net/sauli/finnraves.htm

I was just wondering what you guys thought of the different categories of trance (see above message) that Ishkur came up with... Do you agree/disagree with his descriptions of the types of trance?

Silly Sal :P